Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Doctor/Patient Confidentiality and Abuse Allegations

By R. Collin Middleton

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, 42 U.S.C.A. ' 1320(d) et seq. (HIPAA), was meant to offer a baseline for the disclosure of individual medical information. The law, calling for standards to be promulgated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, became effective in April 2001 and full compliance was required by April 2003. Crenshaw v. Mony et al., 318 F. Supp. 2d 1015, 1027 (D.S.D. Cal. 2004). The regulations are hardly a model of clarity, even for federal regulations, and frequent reference to state law and state reporting agencies can heighten the confusion.

Nowhere is the confusion over what patient information may be disclosed, and to whom, clearer than in the case of the psychiatrist's duty to report the suspected sexual abuse of a child, particularly when the health care provider does not believe the accusation. Must a doctor report every allegation or only those he believes, and if he does not believe the allegation to be true, can he disclose the patient's statement without violating confidentiality rules?

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
The Article 8 Opt In Image

The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.

Beach Boys Songs Written Decades Ago Triggered Current Quarrel With Lawyers Image

There's current litigation in the ongoing Beach Boys litigation saga. A lawsuit filed in 2019 against Nevada residents Mike Love and his wife Jacquelyne in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada that alleges inaccurate payment by the Loves under the retainer agreement and seeks $84.5 million in damages.

Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws Image

This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.

Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin Image

With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.

When Is a Repair Structural or Nonstructural Under a Commercial Lease? Image

A common question that commercial landlords and tenants face is which of them is responsible for a repair to the subject premises. These disputes often center on whether the repair is "structural" or "nonstructural."